Universal AP--Why no free parking for first visit?

[torinsmom]

Just wondering why I don't get free parking on the first visit using my AP? Is it b/c it hasn't been activated or what?

 

[tinydancer09]

Just wondering why I don't get free parking on the first visit using my AP? Is it b/c it hasn't been activated or what?

Correct. You have to activate, meaning go through the turnstiles at least once. Now, if you go the night before after... help me out someone is it 4 or 6? when parking is reduced?

Anyways you can go the night before and enjoy a lovely dinner on Citywalk and activate your annual pass then at a reduced parking rate. You can also purchase tickets for the other people in your party (assuming you only bought a few APs for the discounts) and be ready to hit the gates in the morning. However, depending on your schedule this may not work of course.

 

[torinsmom]

Correct. You have to activate, meaning go through the turnstiles at least once. Now, if you go the night before after... help me out someone is it 4 or 6? when parking is reduced?

Anyways you can go the night before and enjoy a lovely dinner on Citywalk and activate your annual pass then at a reduced parking rate. You can also purchase tickets for the other people in your party (assuming you only bought a few APs for the discounts) and be ready to hit the gates in the morning. However, depending on your schedule this may not work of course.

We are getting there on a Wednesday around noon, so going after 4 that first day may work. My whole family is going to WDW this trip, but DS and I are going down a few days early for Universal. We will be going back next summer, and getting the APs was definitely a good deal for us.

Oops, looks like its $3 after 6. Don't know if we'll want to go that late. We'll have to see how tired we are when we get there(we are taking the train)

 

[Metro West]

Oops, looks like its $3 after 6. Don't know if we'll want to go that late. We'll have to see how tired we are when we get there(we are taking the train)

 

[tinydancer09]

Oops, looks like its $3 after 6. Don't know if we'll want to go that late. We'll have to see how tired we are when we get there(we are taking the train)

Yeah sorry about that! I can never remember what time it starts! If checkin is at 4 though that might be just right for dinner after getting your room set up, then again you may be exhausted. Not like the decision can't be made once you get there! Hope you enjoy your trip

 

[carlos.del002]

It doesn't count the first time because you havn't activated the annual pass and don't have it at hand. We just came back from IOA and US and we bought annual passes. We were at a partner hotel half a mile from City Walk. We walked to the park the first day and got our passes and the second day and on we got parking free so you really don't have to pay for parking the first day as long as you have another way in getting there.

 

[n2mm]

OP, unlike Disney where you just flash your AP, at US they take your AP and swipe it to make sure it's activated. They also ask me for a picture ID every time I go. I now just hand them both (normally they do thank me for having the picture ID ready). This is actually one of the reasons I renew each year by phone so that my AP is always working. Since you keep your orginal AP as long as you keep renewing it, it is never replaced.

 

[DCTooTall]

There are a few ways to get it activated before parking. The 2 "easiest" are

1. Have someone drop you off at the Guest dropoff (located by the taxi stand) so you can walk to the park gates and activate your AP. Then you can return to your vehicle and swing around to the parking deck with your activated AP for free parking.

2. If you have a Premier AP which includes free Valet, You can Valet park in the morning and then when you return that evening and have to pay your AP will have been activated. (won't work on special event nights, and the cost difference between the preferred and premier pass isn't worth it just for the free parking the first day)

 

[Melanie230]

We are getting there on a Wednesday around noon, so going after 4 that first day may work. My whole family is going to WDW this trip, but DS and I are going down a few days early for Universal. We will be going back next summer, and getting the APs was definitely a good deal for us.

Oops, looks like its $3 after 6. Don't know if we'll want to go that late. We'll have to see how tired we are when we get there(we are taking the train)

We are from the same area!!! I am in Garner! I would love to know what the train is like when you get back. I did the whole Amtrak credit card to get those free points. We will have enough points to get a roomette, and a bedroom for the trip down. That way we will be sure to be rested when we arrive! How are you getting from the train station to the park?

 

[torinsmom]

We are from the same area!!! I am in Garner! I would love to know what the train is like when you get back. I did the whole Amtrak credit card to get those free points. We will have enough points to get a roomette, and a bedroom for the trip down. That way we will be sure to be rested when we arrive! How are you getting from the train station to the park?

We've ridden the train once before. Didn't really like coach since it was overnight, so we are doing the roomettes. We are staying in a pool home, so we're renting a car. We'll either do Enterprise, who will come and pick us up or Hertz(they are right at the Orlando station)